It's June 16th, 1996. Jim Carrey's flawed film The Cable Guy takes the #1 spot, while Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are still at the Crossroads of the Billboard chart. The future Spider-Man Tom Holland is 16 days old, and the world has said goodbye to Ella Fitzgerald. In the world of WCW however, it's been a bust month since Slamboree as several big events have gone down that are already changing the very shape of the company as a whole. It's The Great American Bash, being held in the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. Attendance of 9,000 and a .48 Buyrate. So what has been going on since Slamboree?
The biggest story being the recent invasion by talents from the company up north. On the May 27th edition of Nitro, Scott Hall jumped the barricade and made his intentions known. WCW wants a war, they're going to get one. Hall would show up in the coming weeks to constantly antagonize Eric Bischoff into finding three men to take on the three men intent on taking over WCW. One such big men being Kevin Nash, who made his return to WCW on the June 3rd Nitro. While the third man is still unknown, Bischoff promises to give the men an answer on the six-man tag match on tonight's show.
Diamond Dallas Page won the Battlebowl at Slamboree, and was originally in line for a WCW Title match. However, due to his cheating, his shot was relinquished and instead given to Lex Luger, who has unfinished business with the WCW champion The Giant. Giant has laid out multiple challengers over the past few weeks and is intent on finishing the job he put on Luger a month ago when he put him through a table. As for Luger's tag partner Sting, he's on duty tonight against Lord Steven Regal, as the blue blood has gone on for weeks about demanding respect from the Stinger. Even going so far as to slap Sting in the face.
But the prevailing storylines in the past month have all involved Ric Flair. You see, Ric's been naughtier than usual. First he gets Elizabeth in his stable, begins to literally throw Randy Savage's money away, gets Savage so enraged that he's barred from the building, then turns his attention to trying to woo Debra McMichael. This angers her husband Steve "Mongo" McMichael to the point that he challenges Flair and Arn Anderson to a match at the Great American Bash with his tag partner Kevin Greene of the Carolina Panthers. But another wrinkle was added to this angle as Bobby Heenan, retired as a manager, comes out of retirement to be the coach of Flair and Arn. And in the corner of the two footballers is, of course, Randy Savage. Also on tonight's card, Dean Malenko defends his Cruiserweight title against the debuting Rey Mysterio, DDP takes on Marcus Bagwell, The Steiners face Fire and Ice, and more.
Speaking of the latter match, opening action tonight is the Steiner Brothers taking on Fire and Ice. Commentary this evening is Tony Schiavone and Dusty Rhodes. No Heenan tonight as he's coaching Arn and Flair. This is a "must be a winner" match, which seems obvious, but since the last few encounters of these two teams has led to no contest decisions, this time around we're getting a definitive winning team tonight. Scott Steiner and Ice Train start things off. Steiner tries a hiptoss, but Ice Train gets in one of his own. Headlock and shoulder block spot from Steiner, but Ice Train collides into him. Cover only gets a two.
The Steiners catch both of Fire and Ice with hiptosses and clotheslines. Rick Steiner and Scott Norton in. Norton goes for a corner tackle, but Rick reverses for a roll-up, only to get caught with a clothesline. Another big collision follows from Norton. He lays into Rick Steiner with chops, but Rick comes back with a clothesline and a belly to belly suplex. Cover only gets a two. Tag to Scott Steiner. Dropkick from Steiner connects. He ducks a clothesline, but Norton catches him with a Samoan Drop. Tag to Ice Train who lays Steiner with a suplex and a headbutt, followed by a belly to belly. Cover only gets a two however.
Norton gets a cheap shot in on Steiner. Ice Train follows that up with a collision in the corner. Steiner gets in a boot and a big belly to belly. Stiff clothesline by Steiner. Ice Train tags Scott Norton, as Steiner hits a northern lights suplex, dropping Norton hard on his shoulder. Steiner hits an ax handle off the apron. He gets back in for a dive, but Norton hits him with a gingerly looking powerslam. Cover gets a two. He lays into Steiner's arm, then tags in Ice Train who covers for two, while keeping the head locked. Tag to Norton who hits a shoulder breaker. He goes for an arm bar, but Rick comes in and kicks in Norton's face, but Norton keeps the hold locked. One more however finally breaks the lock.
He goes for a second shoulder breaker, but Rick gets a sneak tag. He hits a clothesline and follows with a German Suplex. He back drops Ice Train. Ice Train throws Steiner out then attacks Rick, who is caught by Norton. Powerbomb and splash. Cover, but Steiner makes the save. Norton throws Steiner out as they then try a doomsday device on Rick, but Steiner breaks that in time. The Steiners gets up for a big bulldog, connecting.. Cover, but Ice Train breaks it. Frankensteiner by Steiner to Norton gets the win.
Decent match, but way too chaotic by the end. A bit of face in peril stuff, but Scott Steiner got some big spots in to keep it from feeling too dull. It delivered in what you'd expect from a big man match of this magnitude, lots of collding into each other with stiff looking slams and clotheslines. Not the strongest opener I've seen since covering WCW, but still a good start to the show.
Mean Gene is backstage with Jimmy Hart and Kevin Sullivan. Sullivan says that falls will count anywhere tonight. This isn't between the Dungeon and the Horsemen. He got rid of one former Horsemen, because Pillman was a quitter. When he drags Benoit through the building and makes him suffer, he's going to lay the same pain on him that he did Pillman. He'll show Arn and Flair that they can count on the Dungeon of Doom.
Up next, the WCW United States title is on the line. Konnan defending against El Gato. Schiavone has a hard time pronouncing "feather in the hat" which bothers Dusty. Arm drags to start, followed by some kick exchanges. Leg drag by El Gato followd by more kicks and another arm drag. El Gato sets Konnan up on the buckle, but Konnan gets in a hairpull, rolls off and hits a big clothesline. Cover only gets a two. Konnan leapfrogs El Gato twice, but gets caught with a kick to the face. El Gato locks in a crucifix style submission, which again stymies Dusty, who yells at Schiavone to call the move.
Sitout powerbomb by El Gato gets a two count. He follows with a hammerlock submission, which transitions into an Arm Bar. Konnan breaks free and turns it into a leg lock. Whip to the corner and a facebuster by Konnan followed by an awkward cover for two. Rolling clothesline and another cover for barely two. El Gato throws Konnan out and tries a baseball slide, only to tumble outside. Konnan gets a sunset flip powerbomb to the outside. Gato gets back in and tries a scissor hold, only for Konnan to counter it into an Alabama Slam, turning it into a bridging cover for the three to retain the title. Kind of a sloppy match, mostly from El Gato, but Konnan's work continues to improve.
Mean Gene is with Sting, here to talk about Lord Steven Regal. Sting says you don't have to stir him up. We get some mild homophobia Sting with how Sting brings up how prissy Regal is. Is that how they raise them in America? He's a little iffy, but Sting will straighten him out.
Up next, the Battlebowl Ring is on the line as Diamond Dallas Page defends against Marcus Alexander Bagwell. Pre-match, Page grabs the mic to call the crowd a bunch of Baltimore Maryland, then mocks "Carl Ripken". Bagwell rushes the ring to attack Page, but DDP runs out. But Bagwell is an idiot and turns his back to Page, allowing Page to clothesline him over the rope. Page follows it up with some clubbing blows on the apron until Bagwell gets in a guillotine that sends him over the ropes awkwardly. He follows by knocking Page over the apron, sending DDP through a chair. They return to the ring as Bagwell gets a cross body for two.
Bagwell punches Page so hard that the gum goes flying out his mouth, and knocks him out of the ring. Bagwell then hits a really nice flying cross body over the ropes. Bagwell goes to the top buckle, but Page crotches him on the rope. Page begins to beat down Bagwell for a bit, including a nice big back elbow and a pumphandle backbreaker. Cover only gets the two. He gets a back suplex for two. Classic abdominal stretch spot where Page uses the ropes, and isn't even that subtle about it with how he rocks back and forth. Eventually the ref kicks his arm, allowing for Bagwell to get in a hiptoss. Pancake by Page only gets a two.
Page starts stomping down Bagwell, then mocks the crowd, allowing Bagwell to get a shot, and pull a banana peel spot on Page, who comically slips off a missed kick. Inverse Atomic Drop followed by a normal from Bagwell, who hits some punches, and a clothesline. Slingshot clothesline over the ropes from Bagwell, who covers for two. He works some knees in the corner, then whips Page in the corner. Page gets a back elbow, then covers using the ropes, but is unsuccessful. He badmouths the crowd, allowing Bagwell to come back with a headscissor. He tries a fisherman suplex, but Page blocks it and hits a diamond cutter. Cover gets the three in a pretty good match. Solid back and forth, definitely some good offense from Bagwell, and Page continues to be one of the company's best characters at this point in the product. Lots of good ring awareness and never felt too slow. Definitely good stuff.
Mean Gene is with Jimmy Hart (again) and The Giant. Gene asks about Hart's association, since he's friends with Luger as well as the GIant, but Jimmy's being vague. Giant says that if Luger thinks he's going to rack him, he's sadly mistaken. The Giant is the one true immortal who has beaten everybody. He says that the chokeslam is all that Luger's going to know.
Up next, Dean Malenko defends his cruiserweight title against the debuting Rey Mysterio Jr. We finally get ol' Mr. 619 on the blog. In the business since he was 14, Mysterio plied his craft through AAA and ECW, the latter being his first major exposure in the United States prior to his run here in WCW. The bell rings and we're off as both men exchange quick holds, but are at a stalemate. Rey flips and trips Malenko, but Malenko recovers quickly. An exchange of arm holds and escapes, but both are still evenly matched. More avoidage, until Rey gets a spinning arm drag off the shoulder of Malenko.
Springboard dropkick by Rey sends Malenko to the outside. Malenko comes back in and locks the arm, but Rey countes into a sunset flip, only for Malenko to turn it into a catapult to the outside. He tries a baseball slide, but Rey dodges. Rey gets Malenko grounded, but Malenko kicks Rey's elbow so hard it almost sounds like it detached from the sockt. Hammerlock body slam follows. It's clear that Malenko has found what he intends to wear down as he continues the arm work with an arm bar. Rey escapes to the outside, but Malenko wraps his arm into the barricade and stomps it. Ouch!
Malenko continues work on the arm, only for Rey to run to the top buckle and hit a dropkick to escape. Rey then tries for a hurricanrana, but Malenko throws him off and hits a stiff clothesline. Cover only gets a two however. Malenko returns into the arm bar. He wraps the arm into the ropes and hits anotehr dropkick, then sets it on the apron and drops some hard elbow blows. Hammerlock back suplex follows. Cover only gets a two count. Maelenko returns to the arm bar, then follows with a northern light suplex with the arm hammerlocked. So far this has been a great exhibition of damaging move variations.
Rey springboards over Malenko and hits a dropkick, but Malenko is right back up and right back on the arm. He transitions it into a surfboard stretch, then turns it into a bridging cover for two. He returns into the shoulder work. He follows into a back suplex and a cover for two. Underhook suplex and a cover only gets two. Malenko twists the shoulder into another brutal looking hold, then starts bashing in the arm some more. Back into an arm bar, just tearing it. Rey manages to send Malenko crashing outside into the referee, then dropkicks Malenko twice.
Rey comes back bit with a somersault plancha off the ropes that hits Malenko. He throws Malenko back in and hits a springboard dropkick. Cover only gets a two. Powerbomb is counter into a sitout from Rey, Malenko counters, then Rey counters back, covering for two. Rey handspringes over the ropes then hits a springboard frankensteiner, covering for two. Rey goes up top, but Malenko tries to grab him, only to be hit with a frankensteiner off top. Tilt-a-whirl is turned into a cross body for two. Rey gets on the shoulders, but Malenko powerbombs him and uses the ropes to keep Rey down for the three to retain his title.
Really good match. Lots of amazing moves and variations. Granted, the match slowed to a crawl with the arm work in the middle, but like I've said before about Malenko, it's more about how many variations to the holds that keeps it from being boring. As for Rey, he had a great first showing, everything looked crisp and fast, and definitely presents a sign of what's to come with the incoming influx of lucha talent and the rise of WCW's cruiserweight division. Definitely the best match so far bar none.
Mean Gene is with Lex Luger, who is dripping in gold. Luger says that he's not on this promo mentally. He's not going to stand there and shout, and say what he's going to do to The Giant. He praises Giant for his successes for far, but says that if Giant thinks he's invincible, that's where he'll make mistakes. Luger rambles a lot, but says he'll be the champion tonight.
Up next, it's a grudge match between Big Bubba Boss Man and John Tenta. Bubba throws around some of the clumps of hair that he sheared from Tenta. How much hair did Tenta have for Bubba to keep tossing it around. Tenta comes out to zero music, which comes off as awkward as his half skullet. Both men brawl outside until Bubba throws him into the ring. He goes up, but Tenta shoves him off the buckle to the outside. He throws "Bubber" (as Dusty coins it) into the steps. Bubba begs him off, but Tenta takes him to he corner with a blow to the midsection and a series of butt smashes.
Bubba gets some sort of foreign object and lays Tenta with a loaded fist. He gives it to Jimmy Hart before he can get caught. Cover only gets a two. Enziguri from Bubba who follows by dropping his weight on Tenta on the ropes several times. Cover using the ropes, but referee Nick Patrick catches him.Tenta gets in a body blow and tries to slam Bubba, but falls, allowing Bubba to cover for two. Bubba begins to rake at the face of Bubba for a bit, then stomps Tenta for a bit. Bubba smashes Tenta's leg into the post, then starts dropping weight on the injured ankle. Dusty and Schiavone argue over the pronunciation of "Garment" (Or Gohment as Dusty puts it) as Bubba hits a back suplex.
He goes up, but Tenta hits a slam and covers for three. He grabs the scissors from Jimmy Hart and threatens to cut his hair until Bubba makes the save, only to collide into Hart. Tenta tries to shear Bubba's beard, but only gets a bit as the heels make their escape. As for the match, it was medocre. Some decent big man stuff in places (and a nice enziguri from Boss Man), but nothing that good. Mercifully short at least.
Mean Gene backstage with Mongo, Kevin Greene, and their wives Debra and Tara. Both men say "baby" a lot as they say they have no game plan, and they're coming in hard. Randy Savage makes a few football references as he say that they're going to throw Flair and Arn into the endzone.
Up next, we have Chris Benoit taking on "Taskmaster" Kevin Sullivan in a falls count anywhere match. Basic rules are that they can brawl throughout the arena and pinfals and submissions do count anywhere. Though this match will feature two referees to follow the action. Neither men waste any time as they brawl up the entrance way. Sullivan bashes Benoit into the steps, but Benoit comes right back with some chops. Both men chop each other, but Sullivan comes back, sending Benoit over the railing. Both men brawl through the crowd, going all the way up the stands and out to the men's room. Sullivan slams Benoit's head into a washroom door several times. Again, no wonder the man's brain was mush by the end.
Sullivan tries to shove Benoit's head into a urinal, but Benoit counters, slamming Sullivan into a door. Dusty is more transfixed that "THERE'S A LADY IN THE MEN'S BATHROOM!" Sullivan grabs a bag of paper towel and smashes it over Benoit. They brawl outside of the washroom as Dusty hopes they'll end up in the ladies washroom. The two brawl their way back through the crowd. Sullivan throws Benoit down the stairs, then proceeds to do it a second time, followed by a stomp on the balls. Benoit regains control for the moment until Sullivan crotches him on the rail. Benoit gets a table and tries to pull it out, but it gets caught, so he gives up. He throws Sullivan over the rail, and tries again with the table, this time succeeding in getting it out. He smacks Sullivan with the table, then puts it into the ring. He puts it in the ring and tries to whip Sullivan into it, but Sullivan counters. He attacks Benoit, but Benoit avoids. Benoit then wedges the table up top, only to get back dropped onto it. Sullivan goes up while Hart holds the Table.
Mean Gene is with the three Horsemen, Woman, Elizabeth, and Bobby Heenan. Arn says that Benoit earned the right to be a horsemen, and the head of the snake (Sullivan) being severed. He says Benoit has earned his stripes. Bring on the troops, because they are loaded for bear. Benoit says that Sullivan has been served and that he put him in their place once and for all. Arn says that the football players got a visual aid. Flair tells that the footballers should look at their team tonight. Heenan says that Gene has been insinuating that Heenan is a coward, but nothing will happen tonight to him.
Up next, Lord Steven Regal takes on Sting. Sting lays into Regal early on and throws him hard over the buckle to the outside. He throws Regal into the barricade then follows with a back body drop. He throws Regal back in, who begs Sting off, only to lay a thumb into the eye. He gets in some stiff uppercuts then drops the knee on Sting's face. Cover gets a one. Headlock from Regal is turned into a knee to the midsection from Sting.
After some stalling, Regal calls for a handshake, but gets rejected, big time. Great facials and mannerisms from Regal here. Regal trips Sting then tries to keep him covered, only for Sting to constantly get the shoulder up. Sting turns it into a test of strength, but Regal turns it into a cobra clutch and transitions into stiff elbows and uppercuts. He goes into a full nelson lock, but Sting breaks into a sunset flip for two. Regal keeps Sting in a chinlock with some punches for good measure. After a bit, Regal stays in control with a dropkick, then with some knees and fists.
He keeps Sting in another chinlock and lays more stiff strikes. Sting turns it into a back suplex. Regal however is right back on Sting, working the arm and twisting the wrist. He drops his weight on the bad arm and covers for two. He then goes into a crossface chinlock, but Sting gets up and throws him off, only for Regal to collide into him, knocking both men down. Regal grinds Sting's face on the mat and drives his elbow into the back of the head. Regal continues to work the arm and jaw jacking the crowd at the same time. He uses the ropes for leverage, but gets caught eventually. Sting locks Regal into an abdominal stretch, but Regal gets the ropes. Regal scores with a left to the back of the head, then mocks the crowd some more. Headscissor lock by Regal who also bars the arm. After some kicks to the head of Sting, he turns into a cover for two. Back into arm work until Sting grabs the arm. However, Regal gets another cheap shot to the eyes and then underhooks the arm for a submission until Sting gets to the corner.
Sting throws Regal to the corner and hits a big dropkick and some fast clotheslines. Cover gets a two. Sting goes up, but Regal punches him, then hits a really messy underhook superplex, covering for a two count. Regal applies the Regal Stretch, but then lets go as Regal is upset that he didn't give up. He lays in more stiff strikes to the head and face, but eventually Sting wakes up and goes into no-sell mode. Sting beats down on Regal in the corner repeatedly, then goes for a Stinger Splash, but Regal gets his legs up. Regal gets back dropped, as Sting then locks in a Scorpion Death Lock for the win. Great match, particularly through Regal's great mat-based work and stiff shots. Kind of soured at the super fast Sting recovery ending, but it's pretty basic face Sting booking, and doesn't feel as detrimental as Hogan's no-selling, so I can't complain.
Up next, it's Ric Flair and Arn Anderson (With Woman, Elizabeth, and Coach Bobby Heenan) taking on Steve "Mongo" McMichael and Kevin Greene (With Coach Randy Savage and wives Debra and Tara). I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the massive "Mongo Sucks" sign in the crowd, so already this angle feels like a massive backfire. Speaking of Mongo, he starts with Arn, who works the arm then sweeps the leg. They go into the three point stance, but Mongo succeeds with the tackle.
After some stalling, Arn trips Mongo and beats him down in the corner. He whips Mongo in the corner, but Mongo gets the boot up and follows with a shoulder block off the second rope. Arn cheap shots Greene and both footballers beat him down. Savage also gets in a shot as the faces are in full control. Greene comes in as does Flair. A lot of stalling and taunting one another, until Flair gets a stomp in and starts laying some strikes in the corner. Greene shoves Flair out of the corner and lands a pair of shoulder blocks. Greene mocks Flair's strut as Flair tries to escape up the ramp. Savage grabs Flair and throws him right back into the ring where he eats some jumping clotheslines.
Tag back to Mongo who tries to go after Arn, but he jumps the apron. Flair begs Mongo off, but then starts running at him, only to take some shoulder blocks. He chops Mongo, but Mongo has gained some Sting-like no-sell powers. He chops Flair then hits a hiptoss and a back body drop. Flair gets a thumb to the eye then heads up top, but of course, that leads to Flair being thrown off. Mongo locks in a figure four while Greene does the same to Arn. Woman rakes the eyes of Mongo to make the break. The wives argue, but are easily chased off.
Flair beats down on Mongo, then throws him out of the ring, allowing Arn to get in a few cheap shots before Savage makes the save. Even Heenan gets in a cheap shot. Nobody actually touches Heenan due to the neck injury, obviously. Mongo tries to no-sell some more, but Flair hits a low blow and a knee drop to stop that momentum. Tag to Arn who hits a knee to the lower extremities then chokes Mongo on the ropes. Tag to Flair as they hit a double suplex and double choke. Greene makes the save by tacking arn out of the ring. Cover by Flair, but Mongo throws him off. Mongo gets a clothesline, then tries to tag Greene, but Arn gets tagged in and starts beating him down. Mongo hits an atomic drop that knocks Arn into Flair, then slowly tags in Greene who clips the legs of Arn. He slams both horsemen and back drops Flair.
Greene lands a powerslam, then throws Flair in the corner, which leads to the patented flip over the ropes, only for Flair to get met with a big boot. Greene suplexes Flair over the ropes, but gets chop blocked by Arn. Arn grabs the leg and bashes it on the ring apron. Savage chases him off. Flair tries a figure four, but Greene rolls him up for two. Flair hits a knee breaker and this time he locks in the figure four, with some leverage from Arn. Savage attacks Arn, but Chris Benoit shows up and brawls with him. Arn and Benoit gain control and stomp Savage down.
Woman, Elizabeth, and Debra (now in a dress) show up with a breifcase. Inside is a Horsemen shirt and a whole bunch of cash. Greene begs him to help, but instead gets helped to a briefcase over the head. Yep, Mongo's joined the horsemen. This whole few months of Flair stalking Debra has led to this. Oooooh dear. Cover by Flair who gets the three. Savage beats down on Flair, but Mongo grabs him. They shove each other until Arn and Benoit show up to beat him down. Mongo grabs Savage as Flair smashes the briefcase over his head. Mongo puts on the Horsemen shirt and shakes the hand of Ric Flair. Dusty says that "this is stupid". Couldn't agree more.
As for the match, it was okay at best. Flair and Arn doing their basic stuff and, as always, being great at being cheating heels. Mongo and Greene tried at least, their offense was bowling shoe ugly, but much like Lawrence Taylor at Wrestlemania 11, I can forgive them for this being out of their normal element. Greene looked much better than Mongo, that's for sure. Much faster and more into it than he was. The turn at the end feels nonsensical, but I can forgive it since it is wrestling and more often than not, it doesn't need to make sense. This match could have lost about five or so minutes and nothing would have been lost though.
Eric Bischoff calls out Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to give his answer to their challenge of war. He was debating with the WCW offices, but if they want a war, they're going to get it. It will be at Bash at the Beach in Daytona. He asks if they work for the WWF, which they say that they do not. Hall wants to know who the three men are, mentioning "The Nacho Man" and "The Huckster", because it won't matter, because "the big man", "the medium sized man" and their mystery partner are gonna carve them up.
Bischoff says that he'll reveal their opponents tomorrow on Nitro, which angers the two outsiders. Hall hits Bischoff with a shot to the midsection, and Nash finishes him off by powerbombing him through a conveniently placed platform. Security check on Bischoff as Hall and Nash say that the real big boys have left the building. A really strong segment to continue this angle, but i feel it should have ended the show instead of being before the main event. Would have had more impact.
Up next, it's the main event. Lex Luger challenges The Giant for the WCW World Title. Luger heads over to Bischoff to check on him before making his way to the ring. The match begins and Giant stomps down Luger. Luger ducks a clothesline and hits a pair that send the big man over the ropes to the outside, but Giant gets to his feet. He press slams Luger back into the ring, but Luger gets on him as Giant gets over the ropes. Luger's "OH! OWH!" selling has gotten crazier as he screams it with every boot. He tries for a sleeper hold, but Jimmy Hart goes on the apron, aiming his megaphone. Sting makes the save, chasing the mouth of the south off.
Giant turns the sleeper into a powerslam in the corner, then stomps him down some more. Hard whip to the apron and a fist to the back. He then chokes Luger with his boot. He follows up with a backbreaker, then a Canadian backbreaker (the over the shoulder variety). He then drives his knee into the back of Luger, keeping the pressure on. Luger tries to recover with a slam, but Giant puts his weight down. Giant then stands on Luger's back for a bit and keeps the damage on high. He sets Luger on the buckle and pounds down on the back.
Giant pounds Luger on the apron, then charges at him, only for Luger to avoid. He leaps over the ropes to hit a dropkick and clotheslines Giant several times, but he won't go down. He clips the knee then pounds on the face. Giant shoves him into the corner and goes for a splash, but Luger avoids. Luger gets in some kicks to a wedged Giant, then calls for the Rack. He lifts Giant up, but Giant falls on him, dropping his full weight on his head. Giant comes back with a chokeslam. Cover gets the three as Th Giant retains. For a main event, it was pretty mediocre. Felt more like a Nitro main event. And again, I feel this should have came before the Bischoff segment as it killed any importance it had.
Overall, The Great American Bash turned out to be a solid pay per view. No real stinkers on the card, though there were some mediocre matches like Konnan and El Gato, Bubba and Tenta, and the overlong Footballers vs Horsemen match. But the good definitely outweighed the mediocre. I thought Page and Bagwell was better than expected, Malenko and Mysterio was a great showcase of two completely different styles, Sting vs Regal was great ringwork, and Sullivan vs Benoit was a fun garbage match. Definitely more enjoyable than most of the Public Enemy/Nasty Boys hardcore brawls at least. The main event was just okay, and again felt like it mattered less after booking the Bischoff angle. Speaking of which, 'll give Eric credit for taking that jackknife. Dude got some serious air off that, and even without the protection, that fall must have sucked. Overall, this was a solid show that built well into Bash at the Beach, a show that will definitely be one of the most important that we've covered for this blog so far. But for The Great American Bash, this show gets an A-.
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